In Washington, most lobbying groups need to beg the White House for a meeting with the president of the United States. But if the lobbying group in question is AIPAC, the most powerful pro-Israel shop in the country, it’s the White House that does the begging.

By Paul McLeary with Adam Rawnsley Old rules, new reminder. In a new memo, Defense Secretary Ash Carter reminds military leaders of an existing Pentagon policy allowing qualified troops to carry weapons at recruiting stations and other off-base sites. The July 29 document — coming 13 days after a man killed four Marines and a ...

By Paul McLeary and Adam Rawnsley Ship without a rudder. It’s unclear exactly how much influence Mullah Omar exercised over the Taliban’s daily operations in recent years, but his role as a unifying figure for the often fractious group is undeniable. And with news of his death coming just days before critical peace talks between ...